Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Sets Camaro Record At Nurburgring

Quicker than the Ferrari 488 GTB!

The newly introduced Camaro ZL1 1LE has just become the quickest Chevy Camaro to lap the Nurburgring track. The supercharged coupe equipped with the revised 1LE package lapped the German track in seven minutes and 16.04 seconds, which makes it 13.56 ticks quicker than the Camaro ZL1 that the company tested in 2016. The record was achieved using a suspension setup adjusted for optimal track performance and running on the production Goodyear tires, so there’s no trickery involved. At least none that stands out.

As a brief reminder, the 1LE package adds a range of performance-enhancing features, including Multimatic DSSV (Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve) front and rear dampers, special front dive planes, carbon-fiber rear wing, and exclusive Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires. The 1LE is rated at the same 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque as the standard Camaro ZL1. The 1LE package adds $7,500 to the ZL1’s sticker, increasing the final price to $69,995 before options.

Press release

The 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE has conquered the Green Hell in a new video from Chevrolet, lapping the Nürburgring’s 12.9-mile (20.8 km) Nordschleife (“north loop”) in only 7:16.04, making it the fastest Camaro to ever lap the famed German track.

The ZL1 1LE’s time is quick enough to place it 13.56 seconds ahead of the Camaro ZL1 with 10-speed automatic that Chevrolet tested last year.

“With chassis adjustability unlike any vehicle in its peer group, the Camaro ZL1 1LE challenges supercars from around the world regardless of cost, configuration or propulsion system,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “To make up more than a second per mile on the Nordschleife compared to the ZL1 automatic is a dramatic improvement and speaks to the 1LE’s enhanced track features.”

The Nürburgring lap time was achieved with the ZL1 1LE test car’s suspension adjusted for optimal track performance and running the production Goodyear tires.

“The harder you push the Camaro ZL1 1LE, the more it rewards you on the track,” said Bill Wise, Camaro ride and handling engineer and the driver of the hot lap. “It offers total control, with the confidence that it will deliver lap after lap.”